Cianne
12-14-2006, 03:43 PM
http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061214/SPORTS030102/61214024
'50-50' chance MSU will open '07 football season against LSU
By Kyle Veazey
kyle.veazey@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE — The chances that Mississippi State’s football game with LSU next season will be moved to a season-opening Thursday night to be televised by ESPN are about “50-50,” MSU athletic director Larry Templeton said this morning.
Meanwhile, State is close to finalizing two future football series. Templeton said MSU expects to finalize a contract to renew its football series with Memphis in 2010 and 2011, and is in the latter stages of negotiations on a deal to play a Mid-American Conference team he declined to identify.
That deal would include a game in Starkville in 2008, a game at the MAC school in 2009 and another game in Starkville, though the schools haven’t decided what year.
Templeton, who met with Southeastern Conference athletic directors in Birmingham on Wednesday, said the schools and the SEC will need to make the deal with LSU by mid-January. If not, the plan could die.
“We discussed it, but we still have some moves that have to be made both in the conference and outside the conference,” Templeton said. “Only one of those moves affects me and working out something. Some other people have to move some stuff first.”
Though game dates are far from being set, State will not change any of the opponents on its 2007 schedule, he said.
As for the Memphis game, Templeton said the lone remaining factor to finalize is which school will travel in which year. The schools have played 42 times, including yearly from 1974 to 2003.
“We’ve had a good past history of home-and-home with them,” Templeton said.
MSU will also play two other Conference USA schools: Houston in 2009 and 2010 and UAB in 2010 and 2011.
In addition to the unnamed MAC team, the 2008 schedule includes a home game against I-AA Southeastern Louisiana and a previously announced trip to Georgia Tech. MSU will host Georgia Tech in 2009.
'50-50' chance MSU will open '07 football season against LSU
By Kyle Veazey
kyle.veazey@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE — The chances that Mississippi State’s football game with LSU next season will be moved to a season-opening Thursday night to be televised by ESPN are about “50-50,” MSU athletic director Larry Templeton said this morning.
Meanwhile, State is close to finalizing two future football series. Templeton said MSU expects to finalize a contract to renew its football series with Memphis in 2010 and 2011, and is in the latter stages of negotiations on a deal to play a Mid-American Conference team he declined to identify.
That deal would include a game in Starkville in 2008, a game at the MAC school in 2009 and another game in Starkville, though the schools haven’t decided what year.
Templeton, who met with Southeastern Conference athletic directors in Birmingham on Wednesday, said the schools and the SEC will need to make the deal with LSU by mid-January. If not, the plan could die.
“We discussed it, but we still have some moves that have to be made both in the conference and outside the conference,” Templeton said. “Only one of those moves affects me and working out something. Some other people have to move some stuff first.”
Though game dates are far from being set, State will not change any of the opponents on its 2007 schedule, he said.
As for the Memphis game, Templeton said the lone remaining factor to finalize is which school will travel in which year. The schools have played 42 times, including yearly from 1974 to 2003.
“We’ve had a good past history of home-and-home with them,” Templeton said.
MSU will also play two other Conference USA schools: Houston in 2009 and 2010 and UAB in 2010 and 2011.
In addition to the unnamed MAC team, the 2008 schedule includes a home game against I-AA Southeastern Louisiana and a previously announced trip to Georgia Tech. MSU will host Georgia Tech in 2009.